UK rioters thwarted by show of unity by communities and show of force, says police chief [Video]

LONDON – A heavy security presence across the UK and a “show of unity” by local communities prevented a repeat of the widespread rioting seen in recent days involving racist attacks targeting Muslims and migrants, London’s police chief said on Aug 8.

The UK has been hit by a series of riots after the killing of three young girls in a July 29 knife attack in Southport, north-west England, triggering a wave of false online posts that wrongly identified the suspected killer as an Islamist migrant.

Far-right groups opposed to immigration planned dozens of gatherings across the UK on Aug 7.

In response, thousands of police and anti-racism protesters gathered in cities across the UK, and London’s Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said the night had gone “very peacefully” apart from a few criminal incidents.

“I think the show of force from the police, and frankly, the show of unity …